Transcribing apparatus



Nov. 14, 1939. A. G PREVIN. 2,180,255

.TRANSCR IBING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1935 1 1 mun Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES.

l' ATENT' oF IicE TRANSCRIBING APPARATUS Arthur G. Previn, New York, N. Y., assignor to Electreporter, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application December 28, 1935, Serial No. 56,557

3 Claims.

means whereby the record during the process of transcribing therefrom may be stopped at will by one who is listening to the playback, as for example by a typist transcribing upon a typewriter therecorded matter from the disc. It is well known that the typing speed of "the average typist is not as great as the speed of speech of the average speaker, sothat transcription from the record at the same speed as the record was actually made is not practical. Moreover, the transcribing typist must punctuate, paragraph, and insert designations of the speakers names, etc. in his transcript, all of which is in addition to the matter actually upon the record, and this added labor of the transcribing typist further reduces the possibility of continuous transcribing speed to equal the speed of the recording. This latter speed is the one at which the disc should.

normally be revolved during transcribing to achieve exact playback of the recording, although reduction thereof to a limited extent will not seriously interfere with intelligible playback.

However, if in transcribing the record be slowed so that the reduced speed thereof approximates the average typing speed, there is such pronounced lowering of the pitch and consequent distortion of the speakers voices that the recorded matter is unintelligibleand thus impossible of transcription.

If the disc together with the table upon which it revolves at normal speed (which is the conventional manner in which disc records are played back) be both stopped after a few revolutions to enable the transcribing typist to type what has just been played back, or if only the table or plate upon which the disc rests be stopped, such stoppage will necessarily likewise stop the revolution of the disc. In restarting to continue with the transcription, there is a period of slowly increasing momentum until the full momentum of revolutions for proper play back is achieved following the dead stop, and during the interval between the stop and the full momentum, a portion of the disc will have revolved at a speed below the speed necessary for intelligible play back, as hereinabove described. Since frequent stoppage of the disc is necessary in transcribing therefrom, it is iobviousthat it is desirg able to provide means to maintain the. complete continuity of the play back and transcription despite such stops and restarts without each time lifting the reproducing needle from the advanced point in the groove which it has reached when full momentum is achieved, and placing it backto the point at or before that at which the stop had occurred. It will be apparent that such pro: I

cedure entails serious interference with the speed. i of transcription, and possibly also with the accuracy thereof.

The object of this invention is to provide a J simple and effective means of stopping or brake ing the disc at the will of the operator, and at the same time overcoming the disadvantages. hereinabove set forth. I accomplish this byapplying a brake to the disc while permitting the table or plate upon which it is revolving to remain constantly in motion at its requisite speed I during such braking.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrative of the now-favored embodiment of the invention in which: I

Figure 1 isa fragmentary top plan showing the disc and its braking means;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1, and also showing an actuator for the braking means.

Similar reference characters refer parts in both views.

Referring to the drawing in detail,the rec- 0rd 5 is shown as resting in the usual way upon a rotating table 6; the table rotating at a constant speed and the record normally rotating with and on the table at the same speed. As will be noted, the diameter of the record is somewhat greater than that of the table, so that the periphery of the record extends beyond the table or plate edge.

The braking means is here shown as: comprising a pair of brake shoes which become efiecto similar tive when they engage the periphery of the disc,

According to this arrangement, the brake is normally effective relative to the record.

In order to provide means of rendering and holding the brake ineifective relative to the record whenever desired and as long as desired, the following parts are provided: A treadle I5 is hinged at l6, and at its other end is connected to a flexible cable in a flexible tube H. The upper end of the cable is connected to the arm I2 so that when the treadle is depressed, spring 13 is overcome and the brake blocks 1 are applied to the record. Such a design of brake applying means, that is, the spring, l3 or an equivalent, and the treadle I5 or equivalent, is preferred in view of the fact that the transcribing operator is accustomed to the present operation of a transcribing phonograph, where-o in the treadle is provided which when depressed,

causes the record to move relative to the re-- producer, but which when released results in the stoppage of such record movement,

Various changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I'claim:

L-Braking means for engagement with a rotatable disk to hold it stationary relative to a rotatable driving table, comprising a pair of arms, slide rods from which the arms extend, a lever, said rods being pivoted to the lever on opposite sides of its pivotal axis, means to operate the lever in one direction, and spring means to urge movement of the lever in the opposite direction.

2. In transcribing apparatus, a rotating table, a record disposed thereon free tothe influence of gravity so as to constantly contact the table at-such degree of friction as to turn with the table, arms disposed one at opposite sides of the record, a lever, connections from the arms to the lever at opposite sides of the axis of the latter, a device connected to the lever urging movement thereof to move said arms away from each other, transcriber-controlled means connected to the lever to move the same counter to the device to move the arms away from each other, said arms having friction surfaces movable in the path of rotation of the record and engageable with edge portions of the record with a degree of pressure sufficient to overcome said degree offriction to halt the record while the latter remains in its path of rotation and while the tablev continues to rotate in frictional contact with the record.

, ,3. In transcribing apparatus, a rotating table,

a record disposed thereon free to the influence of gravity so as to constantly contact the table at such degree of friction as to turn withthe table, gripping members at opposite sides of the record, means urging said members away from each other, means mounting the gripping mem bers for direct reversal of the direction of their movement, a transcriber-controlled device connected to the first mentioned means to move the first mentioned means counter to its urge, said gripping members having friction surfaces constrained to movement in the extended path of rotation of the record and engageable with edge portions of the record with a degree of pressure sufficient to overcome said degree of friction to halt the record while the latter remains in its'path of rotation and while the table continues to rotate in frictional contact with the record.

ARTHUR G. PREVIN. 

